The Coquette, or, The History of Eliza Wharton (eBook)

Hannah Webster Foster (1758–1840) was an American novelist whose work reflects the sentiment and moralistic tone of early American literature. Best known for her novel 'The Coquette, or, The History of Eliza Wharton,' Foster's writing style combines epistolary fiction with cautionary tales, centering upon the social and personal consequences of unguarded female behavior. Published anonymously in 1797, 'The Coquette' quickly became one of the best-selling novels of its time and remains a significant text in the study of American women's writing and the early American novel. Drawing from the real-life scandalous death of Elizabeth Whitman, the story serves as a social critique, exploring the limited options available to women and the repercussions of defying societal norms. Foster's depiction of her protagonist, Eliza Wharton, offers readers both a seductive cautionary tale and a subtle indictment of a patriarchal society's double standards. Although much of Foster's life and work remained overshadowed by her more celebrated contemporaries, recent scholarship has revived interest in her contributions to American literature. Beyond 'The Coquette,' Foster's other work, 'The Boarding School, or Lessons of a Preceptress to Her Pupils,' further cements her legacy as a writer who deftly navigated the mores of her time, offering a window into the complexities of womanhood in the early republic.